With the risk too serious to ignore, Education International will relocate its Unite for Quality Education event planned for Nairobi, Kenya as travel bans from Western Africa come into effect.
Originally set for the Kenyan capital, the event will move to Johannesburg, South Africa. Although a firm date has yet to be set, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has agreed to step in as the host.
The decision to find a new location came as Kenya closed its doors to anyone traveling from or through Liberia, Sierra Leone, or Guinea – three countries hit hardest with outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus that according to the World Health Agency (WHO) has killed at least 1,145 people this year. However, the WHO suggests the numbers may be much higher as many victims go unreported.
With participants for Unite expected from countries dealing with the outbreak, Education International (EI) management thought it would be best to avoid the inherent risks and find an alternative country.
Even though Kenya has yet to report any cases, officials announced the suspension of flights in order to prevent the virus, which is transmitted through bodily fluids, from spreading across its borders.
The Unite for Quality Education event, planned as part of a series of events worldwide marking the conclusion of the year-long campaign, was originally set for 20 September to coincide with EI’s 8th Africa Regional Conference, slated to run from the 16 to 20, which will now be moved to a later date.
Details regarding both the Unite Africa event and the Africa Regional Conference will be released as they become available.